Stress: Management and Relief

Everyone experiences stress at some point in life, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But too much stress, or enduring it for too long, can hurt your health. The Web has many sites to help you learn what stress is, how it affects the body, how to find stress relief, how to manage stress, and what researchers are learning about it.

Although many factors in life can cause stress, there are many practical, at-home ways of managing it. In addition to techniques such as yoga, meditation, and even just sitting down with a good book, you can take steps to reduce the level of stress you experience, and prevent the onset of further stress reactions. This may require you to turn down that request to bake cookies for your kid’s soccer team, or it may be as simple as keeping track of project and paper deadlines so you don’t get nasty surprises. This section has links to help with stress reduction and management.

Although there are many popular techniques to reduce stress, experts also say that not every method works for everyone. If you find a technique that works for you but isn’t as popular, go ahead and use it. But keep in mind that using alcohol or drugs is not considered a valid stress management technique, and does more harm than good.

Stress management tips generally focus on what a person can do on his/her own. But chronic stress can develop into an anxiety disorder, which can require professional treatment and sometimes medication. If you suspect stress is starting to become more of an anxiety issue, try taking tests developed by the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Find tests for parents to assess children, and for people to get an idea of whether they may have other anxiety disorders.

Many Web sites devoted to stress agree that it’s not possible to entirely eliminate stress, given the demands of modern life. But these sites have tips to reduce stress or minimize its impact.

The Mayo Clinic
has a page that explains some of the different reactions to stress that are unhealthy, such as turning to cigarettes and alcohol, and suggests you track your stress reactions for a week. A six-question test can help you assess your stress level and learn tips to address what stress you might have.

The Cleveland Clinic
outlines some stress management ideas, such as changing your outlook, exercising, sleeping and delegating responsibilities. This article also emphasizes the importance of a supportive network: “Social support is the single most important buffer against stress,” the article says, and warns that not all relationships are positive.

Oprah
has stress management advice from Dr. Oz, a physician who regularly appears on her show. Oz says keeping yourself healthy through good diet, sufficient sleep and regular exercise “can increase the capacity for how much stress we experience before it becomes a problem.”

TeensHealth
has an article for teens called “What Stresses You Out About School?” Schoolwork, social issues and appearance issues top the list for the site’s readers. Read advice from other teens on managing schoolwork and dealing with social pressures.

eHealth Forum
has a message board dedicated to stress and anxiety. The site is designed as a place for people to find support and share their experiences, but not as a place to receive medical advice. Speak with a doctor if you’re concerned about the severity of your stress.